Andkew hotchkiss



A. HOTCHKISSv Car-Track Clearer.

No. 18,903. Patented Dec. 22, 1857.

N.PETF.RS, PNOTQALITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREW HOTCHKISS, OFSHARON VALLEY, CONNECTICUT.

RAILROAD SNOW-PLOW.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 18,903, dated December 22, 1857.

T o all whom it may concern.'

Be it knownl that I, ANDREW HoTCHxIss, of Sharon Valley, in the countyof Litchfield and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and ImprovedSnow-Plow for Railroads; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had tothe annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which-Figure 1 is a longitudinal central section of my improvement. Fig. 2 isa plan or top view of my improvement.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the twofigures.

This invention consists in a novel construction of the plow, whereby thesame may be used both in light and deep snows, and be made to operateeffectually in either case, and also used as an excavater in deepdrifts.

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and construct myinvention I will proceed to describe it.

A represents the bottom or base of the plow which is of rectangular formand has its front end inclined so as to form a share as shown at (a).This base may beconstructed of metal or wood and it is placed on wheels(a) of the usual form and ar.

ranged in the ordinary way.

B, B are two side pieces which are attached to the base A, said sidepieces extending upward a suitable height. A backpiece C is alsoattached to the base A. The side and back pieces form a sort of box onthe base A. The side pieces B, B do not extend the whole length of thebase A, they terminate a short distance before reaching the inclinedfront surface (a) at the base. The front edges of the side pieces B arebeveled on their outer sides, as shown at (Zi) Fig. 2, so as to formsharp or cutting edges.

D represents a rectangular frame which is fitted between the two sidepieces B B, and rests upon the base A. The side pieces of this framepass through the lower end of the back piece C the cross piece of theframe being at the outer side of the back piece. To the front end of theframe D a share E is attached. This share is formed of two oblique sides(b) (6') lplaced relatively with each other so as to be of V-form. Thesesides extend as high as the side pieces B, and their back edges willpass between said side constitute a plunger for forcing out or unloadingthe snow, as will shortly be described.

When the shareE is shoved forward to its fullest extent itslower endbears against or is in contact with` a stop F on the inclined frontsurface (a) of the base A. This stop is of semi-conical form, and alsoserves` as a depleter to a certain extent.

I would` remark that the front edge of the side pieces B B maybesomewhat inclined from a` vertical line, the lower ends being nearerthe front of the base A than the upper ends and the edgesof the share Eare made to correspond inwardlyY with the inclination of the front edgesof theside pieces B B.

Gr is a shaft which is fitted in proper bearings on the upper surfacesor :edges of the side piecesfB, B. To this 4sha-ft a rectangular frame His attached. This frame is a cutting device the `two side bars (d) (d)as well as the outer cross piece (e) having their lower edges beveled asshown in F ig. l. To one end of the `shaft G a pulley (f) is attached,and a cord or chain (g) passes around said pulley and also around apulley (7L) on a shaft H, at the backend of the device.

In each side piece B there is placed a door I. These doors are hinged attheir lower ends and open outward.

The operation is as follows VVhen the frame H is thrown back and theshare E is moved forward against the stop F, as shown in both figures, aplow similar to the usual or common ones is obtained, the inclinedportion (a) of the base A, the stop F, and share E serving to scoop upand throw the snow at either side of the track. The plow thus arrangedwill answer perfectly well in light snows or those of not much depth.When however it is necessary to cut through deep drifts the share E isdrawn back against the back piece C as shown in red Fig. Q-and the plowis moved along until the box or the space between the side pieces B, B,is filled with snow. The frame H by turning the shaft H', is moved overor around until the end piece (e) strikes the stop F, and the snow infrontof the plow is cut, a square cake being within the box on the base.The snow plow is then backed a requisite distance and the snow forcedout from the box by shoving forward the plunger composed of the frame D,and share E. This operation is repeated until the drift is completelycut through.

BoXes behind snow-plows, to receive the snow, I am aware are old; and Ido not claim to be the iirst inventor thereof. Nor do I claim to be thefirst to use a snow-plow having two sets of shares, one set beingcapable of being removed. But to the best of my knowledge and belief, itis new to employ a plunger composed of the frame D, and share E, soarranged as to be drawn back to the rear part ofthe machine, while VtheboX is being packed with snow, the said plunger to be afterward forcedforward by the engine, to unload the snow.

I would remark that when the share E is secured at the front edges ofthe side pieces B, B, it is retained in said position by a bolt or pin(0') which passes through the end piece (c) of the frame D and throughplates (Z) (l) attached to the back piece C and base A, see Fig. 1. Iwould also remark that the doors I are for the purpose of allowing thesnow to pass out when the plow E is drawn back, for in certain cases itmay be preferable as in light snows or in those of Amedium depth to havethe plow B drawn back and the snow pass up the inclined surface (a) ofthe base into the boX, and out through the doors I, I, the snow beingdeflected through the doors by the share E.

The advantage of my plow over others is in so constructing it as to haveit placed inside of a common house or freight car, which has its frontend and top open, so that the machine may be placed in front of thelocomotive and serve as an ordinary plow in light snows. But for cuttingthrough heavy drifts which an ordinary plow will not penetrate, I placemy plunger composed of share E, and frame D, in the rear of thehouse-car, and run the car into the drifted snow until it is full. Thenby the cutting device, I cut the snow olf, leaving the car full in frontof the plow; then backing out, I take the snow where it can be disposedof; and finally, loosening the coupling and running the plow forward,the snow is all unloaded. My plow is superior to others, in itssimplicity of construction, being easily changed from an ordinary plowto an excavator, oarrying heavy loads, and loading and unloading itselfby means of the engine alone.

IIaving thus described my invention, what I claim, and desireto secureby Letters-Patent, is:

-l. The employment of a plunger, com-- posed substantially of a frame D,and share E, which is moved back out of the way when the machine isdriven into the snow to receive a load, but which may be pushed forwardto force out the snow when unloading; f

the whole constituting a snow plow and eX- cavator capable of beingdirectly loaded and unloaded by the force of the locomotive.

2. The combination of the cutting frame H, with the frame B, asdescribed, vso that after the machine has been run into the drift andfilled, the cutting frame H may be swung over in front, and made to cutdown through the snow; thus completely detaching that portion containedin the machine from the main body of the drift.l ANDREW HOTCHKISS.

Witnesses:

CHAs. F. SEDGWICK, MINNIE SEDGWIGK.

